Ofqual announces future assessment of GCSE Computer Science programming skills by exam only

Programming skills for all GCSEs in Computer Science will be assessed exclusively by exam in the future, Ofqual announced today. This follows a consultation by the regulator on the best way to assess programming skills. 

Ofqual’s decision comes into force for all GCSE Computer Science courses starting in autumn 2020. It will apply for the first time in summer 2022 when programming skills will be assessed ‘during exams taken by all students at once’. The current Programming Project will stop after summer 2021. 

Students will continue to have the opportunity to engage in practical programming as part of their course and we’ll confirm how we will give them the chance to best demonstrate their skills in an exam after we’ve discussed our plans with a range of teachers. Our priority is to support all our GCSE Computer Science teachers so you can continue to deliver our GCSE successfully. We’ll keep you fully informed of any changes you need to make in plenty of time. 

We’d like to thank all the teachers who shared their views about Ofqual’s consultation with us. Your views helped to inform our response to the consultation. 

Just a reminder about the extra support we’ve provided to help schools and colleges on the Programming Project this year. You have until 15 May to complete the Project. We look forward to receiving a sample of your students’ work and your authentication forms once you receive our sample request. See our web page for a checklist of what to send through when.